Combination towel and outdoor furniture cover

ABSTRACT

The towel cover for a chair having two armrests covers at least the seating surface and backrest surface of the chair and the armrests, including insulating the chair user from contact with armrest supports from within or without the chair, and covering the top, front, each side, and rear surface of each armrest. The towel cover is also functional as a towel. The towel cover may have fabric ties for retaining the towel cover on the chair. Metallic and hook-and-loop fasteners are avoided. A stretch terry, in whole or in part, may be used to adapt to reclining chairs, such as reclining lawn chairs. The towel cover may be made of a single piece of cloth or may be fastened together from a plurality of pieces of cloth.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/327,576 filed Apr. 23, 2011 to the sameinventor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to the field of beach and pool towelsthat are sized, shaped and arranged to be used as patio furniturecovers. The present invention is particularly related to a towel thatcompletely covers the armrests of a patio furniture chair or lounge.

BACKGROUND

Covers for lawn chairs and the like, all differing from the presentinvention, are known. Some do not cover the arms, others cover the armsonly partially, others use hook-and-loop fasteners to secure armrestwraps which may be coupled to a towel. Hook-and-loop fasteners andzippers are inconsistent with use as a towel, as such fasteners tanglethe hair of the user. Snaps and other metallic fasteners heat up in thesun, and so are inconsistent with the objective of protecting the userfrom contact with uncomfortable hot objects.

SUMMARY

A shaped and fitted towel for use on a lawn chair to protect the userfrom hot surfaces of the chair. By covering all touchable surfaces ofthe lawn chair, the user is protected from accidental contact with hotsurfaces as the lawn chair becomes heated by exposure to the sun. Thetowel is preferably shaped and fitted to cover the surfaces of lawnchair that would be touched by a seated person; particularly, the back,seat, outer surface of armrests, front of armrests, top of armrests,inside surface of armrests, and armrest supports, are covered by thetowel to insulate the chair user from hot surfaces in the ordinary useof the chair. Preferably, the towel has no metal or plastic fasteners,as such fasteners would be heated by the sun and cause burns to theuser, and no zippers or hook-and-loop fasteners as such fasteners tanglethe hair when the towel cover is in use as a towel. Preferably, thetowel is fully functional as an absorbent towel for pool, patio, car, orbeach use. The towel may include stretch terry fabric.

A lawn chair typically reclines, so the towel is preferably constructedto adapt to this movement, preferably by virtue of ease in the armpanels or by elastic fabric between the armrests and the back of thetowel. Fabric ties or elastic may optionally be used to help secure thetowel to the lawn chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view illustrating a first exemplary towelcover disposed on a first exemplary lawn chair and defining crosssection 4-4, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view illustrating the first exemplary towelcover disposed on the first exemplary lawn chair, according to thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view illustrating the first exemplary towelcover disposed on the first exemplary lawn chair, according to thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cross section 4-4 ofthe first exemplary towel cover, according to the preferred embodimentof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating an alternate embodimentof cross section 4-4 of the first exemplary towel cover, as a preferredalternate embodiment to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the first exemplary towel cover, accordingto the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the first exemplary towel cover,according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a foot-end view of the first exemplary towel cover, accordingto the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a head-end view of the first exemplary towel cover, accordingto the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a second exemplary towel cover on asecond exemplary lawn chair in a first position, according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the second exemplary towel cover onthe second exemplary lawn chair in a second position, according to thepreferred embodiment of the FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the second exemplary towel cover,according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the second exemplary towel cover,according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a foot-end view of the second exemplary towel cover,according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a head-end view of the second exemplary towel cover,according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view illustrating a first exemplary towelcover 100 disposed on a first exemplary lawn chair 102 and definingcross section 4-4, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 1 shows a towel cover 100 disposed on lawn chair 102. Preferably,towel cover 100 covers all of the touchable surfaces of lawn chair 102,including the seating surface 302, frame 110, 112, and the armrest 104,including front end 106 and rear end 108 of the armrest 104, as well asthe armrest supports 116 (one of two labeled). By covering all touchablesurfaces of lawn chair 102, the user is protected from accidentalcontact with hot surfaces as lawn chair 102 becomes heated by exposureto the sun. This is especially important in desert climates, where alawn chair can easily become hot enough in the sun to cause first andsecond degree burns.

Lawn chair 102 is preferably a reclining plastic and metal folding lawnchair, with armrests 104 that do not move when the back 122 of the lawnchair 102 reclines. Lawn chair 102 may be any sort of chair, havingarmrests 104, that is in use in outdoor, pool, beach, or spa areas, orfor use in a car. For example, lawn chair 102 may be a folding chair, awooden Adirondack chair, a deck chair, a Captains chair, a moldedplastic patio chair, a wicker chair, a poolside upholstered chair, anautomobile seat, etc., with the provision that lawn chair 102 has twoarmrests 104.

As shown in FIG. 1, towel cover 100 is preferably shaped and fitted tocover all of the surfaces of lawn chair 102 that would be touched by aseated person; particularly, the back 122, seat 132, outer surface ofarmrests 104, front 106 of armrests 104, top 134 of armrests 104, andinside surface of armrests 10 and armrest support 116 are all covered bytowel cover 100. Preferably, towel cover 100 has no metal or plasticfasteners, as such fasteners would be heated by the sun and cause burnsto the user. Preferably, towel cover 100 is fully functional as anabsorbent towel for pool or beach use. Preferably, towel cover 100 is anabsorbent towel, such as a terrycloth or velour towel fabric. Preferredtowel cover 100 materials include cotton, polymer/cotton blends, andartificial fibers such as polyester, rayon, Tencel, nylon, etc. Anabsorbent terrycloth or velour towel that is stretchy and elastic isalso contemplated. Towel cover 100 optionally includes antibacterialadditives, stain repellents, fire retardants, or other additives asknown in the art of bath and pool towels.

Preferably, towel cover 100 comprises back sleeve panel 120 and seatpanel 114. Towel cover 100 further comprises two armrest covers 136 and236 on either side of towel cover 100, as shown in FIG. 2. Armrest cover136 comprises armrest inner panel 210; armrest top panel 124; armrestfront panel 212; armrest outer panel 128, and armrest back panel 304(see FIG. 3). Armrest panel 236 comprises armrest inner panel 208;armrest top panel 214; armrest front panel 206; arm outer panel 228; andarmrest back panel 306 (see FIG. 3). The armrest 104 is covered in front106 by front panel 212 and in back 108 by back panel 304, which is anovel aspect of the present invention. Both armrests 104 aresymmetrically covered. Those of skill in the art, enlightened by thepresent disclosure, will appreciate that towel cover 100 will also beuseful on a chair with no armrests 104.

Preferably, back sleeve panel 120 covers at least part of the rearsurface of the back of lawn chair 102, and connects to seat panel 114along the top and side edges thereof, to form a pocket to secure towelcover 100 onto the back 122 of lawn chair 102; as shown especially inFIG. 3. Preferably, seat panel 114 covers the seating 132 and back 122surface of lawn chair 102.

Preferably, armrest inner panel 208, 210 entirely covers the inside arm104 of lawn chair 102 adjacent a seated person. Preferably, arm toppanel 124, 214 entirely covers the top surface of the armrest 104 oflawn chair 102. Preferably, arm front panel 206, 212 entirely covers thefront end 106 of the armrest 104 of lawn chair 102. Preferably, armrestrear panel 304, 306 entirely covers the rear end 106 of the armrest 104of lawn chair 102. Preferably, armrest outer panel 128, 228 entirelycovers the outer surface of the armrest 104 of lawn chair 102.Preferably, seat panel 114 extends over and covers the edges of theseating 138 area of lawn chair 102, and extends down the legs of lawnchair 102 to and edge 132, optionally as far as to the ground. Armrestpanels 136, 236 extend their respective exterior panels to an edge 126that preferably extends below the seat 138 of the lawn chair 102 whichedge may extend to the ground.

The foot end of the towel cover 100, when installed as a cover,overhangs 130 the foot end of lawn chair 102. In a preferred embodiment,the towel cover 100 is fitted to a specific lawn chair 100 with seams tofit the overhang 130 to the lawn chair 102. The towel cover 100 may besold with lawn chair 102 in a kit. In an alternate embodiment, towelcover 100 drapes over the foot end of the lawn chair 102 to formoverhang 130. In a variation on such alternate embodiment, ties maysecure such draped overhang 130 to the lawn chair 102. Hook and loopfasteners are disfavored for towel covers 100, as the hook sideentangles hair.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view illustrating the first exemplary towelcover 100 disposed on the first exemplary lawn chair 102, according tothe embodiment of FIG. 1. Lawn chair 102 is constructed of members 110,112, 202, and 204, armrest supports 116, and armrests 104. The frontarmrest panels 206 and 212 are illustrated as partial covers of thefront ends 106 of armrests 104. In an alternate embodiment, the frontarmrest panels 206, 212 may extend lower than shown, or may be sewn toinner and outer panels 208,228 or 210, 128, to wrap underneath armrests104. The top of seat panel 114 forms a cap with back panel 120 to covermember 202. Preferably, back panel 120 is a folded over extension ofseat panel 114.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view illustrating the first exemplary towelcover 100 disposed on the first exemplary lawn chair 100, according tothe embodiment of FIG. 1. Exemplary plastic fabric lattice work 302 isfastened to members 110, 112, 202, 204, and 308 to provide seat 138 andback 122. Armrest cover back panels 304 and 306 are separate from back122, as the armrests 104 of lawn chair 102 do not move when back 122reclines. The case where the armrests 104 move when back 122 reclines isdiscussed in detail below.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cross section 4-4 ofthe first exemplary towel cover 100, according to the embodiment ofFIG. 1. The cross sectional view ignores chair 102. Side panels 132 maybe sewn to seat panel 114. Panels 228, 214, 208, 114, 210, 124, and 128may be one continuous sheet of fabric. In a preferred embodiment, seatpanel 114 is a separate panel and armrest covers 236, 136 are sewn toseat panel 114.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating an alternate embodimentof cross section 4-4 of the first exemplary towel cover 100, as analternate to the embodiment of FIG. 1. The cross sectional view ignoreschair 102. Side panels 132 may be folds in panel 114 and/or innerarmrest panels 208 and 209. Panels 228, 214, 208, 114, 210, 124, 128,and side panels 132 may be one continuous sheet of fabric.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the first exemplary towel cover 100 withthe armrest covers 136, 236 folded out, according to the embodiment ofFIG. 1. Inner armrest panels 208 and 210 are visible. The width andlength of seat panel 114 is preferably greater than the width and lengthof lawn chair 102, to allow for side panels 132, overhang 130, and roomwithin the cap formed by seat panel 114 and back panel 120.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the first exemplary towel cover 100 withthe armrest covers 136, 236 folded out, according to the embodiment ofFIG. 1. Outer armrest panels 228 and 128 are visible in folded overconfiguration. Back panel 120 is preferably a folded over extension ofseat panel 114 and is fastened along the sides by stitching or otherconventional means. Snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, and zippers aredisfavored, as they interfere with the use of the towel cover 100 as atowel.

FIG. 7 is a foot-end view of the first exemplary towel cover 100,according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5. The view in FIG. 7 isof the configuration of FIG. 5, but with the flexible towel cover 100illustrated as rigid for the purpose of illustrating the structure. Sidepanels 132 are as in FIG. 4A. Back side panels 702 and 704 are analternate to sewing the edges of back panel 120 and seat panel 114directly. The gap between back panel 120 and seat panel 114 receivesmember 202 and portions of members 112 when installed on a lawn chair102.

FIG. 8 is a head-end view of the first exemplary towel cover 100,according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. In an alternate embodiment, reararmrest panels 206 and 212 are extended inward to side panels 132,enabling the rear armrest panels 206 and 212 to become garment shoulderswhen the cap formed by seat panel 114 and back panel 120 is worn on ahuman head. In such an alternate embodiment, the armrest covers 136, 236become sleeves.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a second exemplary towel cover 900 ona second exemplary lawn chair 902 in a first position, according to anembodiment of the present invention. Lawn chair 902 has an armrest 904that is rotationally coupled to seat back member 912 so that the armrest904 moves when the seat back 922 reclines. First armrest support 916 isrotationally coupled to armrest 904 and to seat side member 910. Secondarmrest support 918 is likewise pivotably coupled to member 910 and toarmrest 904. In a preferred embodiment, second armrest support 918 is aportion of seat back member 912. Armrest cover 936 is coupled to aseat-back portion of seat panel 914, such that the armrest cover 936 maybe pulled back when seat back 922 reclines. Armrest cover 936, as wellas towel cover 900, is preferably made of a stretch fabric, such asstretch terry cloth. Outer panel 928 and its corresponding inner panel(not shown) will change shape when the seat back 922 reclines. In aparticular embodiment, the portion of stretch terry engaging the

The front end 906 of armrest 904 is covered by front panel 932 ofarmrest cover 936, in a similar fashion to front panels 212 and 214. Ina particular embodiment, the portion of cover 900 engaging the undersideof front panel 932 may be reinforced with additional layers of fabric.Rear end 908 of armrest 904 is covered by rear end panel 930.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the second exemplary towel cover 900on the second exemplary lawn chair 902 in a second position, accordingto the embodiment of the FIG. 9. FIG. 10 illustrates the changed shapeof armrest cover, and outer panel 928 in particular, when the seat back922 is reclined.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the second exemplary towel cover 900,according to the embodiment of FIG. 10. Armrest inner panels 1102 and1104 have extensions, as compared to towel cover 100, linking armrestinner panels 1102 and 1104 to a portion of the seat panel 114 whichcovers a lower portion of the seat back 922. Such extensions allow thearmrest covers 936 and 1136 to move with the reclining seat back 922.

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the second exemplary towel cover 900,according to the embodiment of FIG. 10. Armrest outer panels 928 and1202 of armrest covers 936 and 1136 are coextensive with armrest innerpanels 1102 and 1104, respectively.

FIG. 13 is a foot-end view of the second exemplary towel cover 900,according to the embodiment of FIG. 10, and is similar to FIG. 7 as tostructure, except for back end armrest panels 930 (underside viewed),which connect across inner and outer panels 1102, 1202 and 928, 1104along the extended edges thereof.

FIG. 14 is a head-end view of the second exemplary towel cover 900,according to the embodiment of FIG. 10. Back end armrest panels 930 canbe directly seen. The second exemplary towel cover 900 is adapted tolawn chairs 900 that having armrests 904 that move when seat back 922reclines. In both exemplary embodiments, both the front ends 106, 906and the rear ends 108, 908 are covered.

Depending on the sewing pattern used, the various panels of towel cover100 may be a single continuous piece of fabric, or any number of piecesof fabric, sewn into the shape described. In addition to sewn seams,adhesive, heat-welding, or ultrasonic welding may be used to connect thepanels, as long as the basic functionality of a soft usable towel ismaintained.

Back panel 120 may be a shallow pocket, or may extend down the back oflawn chair 102 optionally as far as to the ground. Any of the seams oredges of towel cover 900 may be elasticized to assist towel cover 900 tostay on lawn chair 102. In particular, the lower edge of back panel 120may be elasticized to fit towel cover 100 onto the back 122 of lawnchair 102. In an additional embodiment, the edges of seat panel 114 areelasticized to hold towel 100 onto the seat portion of lawn chair 120.In an additional embodiment, armrest cover outer panels 928 areelasticized to hold towel cover 900 onto the armrests 904 of lawn chair902.

In another preferred embodiment, fabric ties are provided to securetowel cover 900 to lawn chair 902. In yet another preferred embodiment,fabric ties are provided to secure various panels of towel cover 900 toeach other for fitting towel cover 900 to lawn chair 902. In anadditional embodiment, fabric ties may hold towel cover 900 onto theseat portion 938 of lawn chair 902. In an additional embodiment, armouter panel 928 uses fabric ties to hold towel cover 900 onto thearmrest 904 of lawn chair 902. The use of fabric ties must notcompromise the complete coverage of lawn chair 902 in order to preventburns to the user caused by exposed areas of lawn chair 902.

Towel covers 100, 900 may comprise colors, indicia, woven patterns,textures, etc., as are known in the art of bath and beach towels.Preferably, towel cover 100, 900 is a light color in order to staycooler in the sun.

Towel cover 100, 900 may be provided as part of a kit. Preferably, a kitcomprises towel cover 100, 900 and at least one of: one or more lawnchairs 102, 902; sunscreen; sunglasses; a storage case or pouch;packaging; instructions; a surf board; a bathing suit; a cooler; etc.

Towel cover 100, 900 may be provided with accoutrements such as: one ormore pockets; one or more pillows or pads; a built-in storage pouch forfolding towel cover 100, 900 into; additional panels for covering theuser while the user is seated; or other additions, as long as the basicfunctionality of a soft usable towel is maintained.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in theforegoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vastnumber of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that theexemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and arenot intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description willprovide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map forimplementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. Itshould be understood that various changes can be made in the functionand arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalentsthereof.

1. A towel cover for an outdoor chair having first and second armrests,comprising: a. at least one towel fabric panel; b. said at least onetowel fabric panel comprising a cover shaped and fitted to coversurfaces of said chair that a user of said chair may contact when saidchair is in ordinary use by such user; c. wherein said first and secondarmrests each comprise at least two of: i. a top surface; ii. a firstarmrest support having a first armrest support surface; iii. a secondarmrest support having a second armrest support surface; iv. a frontsurface; v. a rear surface; vi. an inner side surface; and vii. an outerside surface; d. wherein said at least one towel fabric panel comprisesa cover fitted for covering said surfaces of said first and secondarmrests.